Pressing implement



' Jan. 9, 1934.

A. suss AN PREQSSING IMPLEMENT Filed April 27, 1952 2 Sheets-Sheet l IN VEN TOR.

% ATNRNEY.

Patented 1.... a, 1934 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE PBESSING IMPLEMENT Arthur 8 New York, N. Y.

Application April 2'1, 1932. No. 607,693

2 Claims. (Cl. 68-26) This invention relates to pressing implements. It is particularly directed to a pressing iron provided with electric and steam heating devices,

and the like devices.

' I An object of this invention is to provide an implement of the character described having highly improved means for retarding the flow of steam therethrough and effectively preventing condensation of steam whereby an even, constant heat with a sure, steady flow of steam is maintained.

A further object of this invention is to provide a pressing iron of the character described, having means for eifectively steaming and drying in .a single operation whereby materials may be 'll pressed and dried in one forward motion of the implement; thus minimizing the time required for excessive steam pressure whereby an even heat may be maintained and the implement used for long periods without danger of scorching, bum- 'ing or fire hazard.

Still another object of this invention is to provide a strong, compact and rugged implement of D the character described which shall be easy to manipulate and adjust, which shall comprise comparatively few and simple parts, easy to asinexpensive to manufacture and yet practical and 36 emcient to a high degree in use.

Other objects of this invention-will in part 'be obvious and in part hereinafter pointed out.

The inventionaccordingly consists in the features of ,construction, combinations of elements, andarrangement of parts which will be exemplifled in the construction hereinafter described, and of which the scope of application will be indicated in the following claims.

In the accompanying drawings, in which is shown one of the various possible illustrative embodiments of this invention,

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of an implemen Fig. 4 isa cross-sectional view on line H of;

Fig. 2; g --1 5 is an elevational cross-sectional view taken through the steam valve; and

Fig. 6 is a transverse, elevational sectional view of a portion of the base and one of the steam passages.

Referring now-in detail to the drawings, 10 designates an ironing implement embodying the invention and comprised generally of a base 11 to which there is attached, as hereinafter described, a cover or casing 12 and a handle 13. 65 The base 11 is provided with a flat, smooth undersurface 15 and with a top surface 16 parallel to the lower surface.. Said base is further provided with a rear, straight upstanding surface 17 and side walls or surfaces 18 extending from said rear surface, and converging forwardly to form a toe portion 19, said side walls or surfaces preferably tapering inwardly and upwardly in the usual manner. The base 11 may be made of bronze or any other suitable metal and is provided with a rearward projection 21 preferably adjacent one rear right comer thereotformed with a vertical screw threaded opening 22,-for the purpose hereinafter appearing. Said base may be further formed with a horizontal bore or drilled opening 23 parallel to the undersurface 15 and to one side wall 18, said bore 23 preferably communicating with said screw threaded opening 22. As shown in Fig.3 of the drawings, the bore 23 extends somewhat lws than one-half the length of the base, and a plug 24 1 serves to close the rear end of said bore. The. semble or disassemble, which shall be relatively base 11 may be further provided with a forwardly and outwardly inclinedbore 25 extending from substantially the mid-section of the rear'wall 17 and communicating as at 26, with the forward end of said bore 23. Another bore 27 communicating as at 28 with the rear end of the bore 25,

is inclined forwardly and toward the opposite wall 18, and extends to somewhat less than one-half the length 'of the base.- A plug 28a serves to close the rear ends ofthe bores 25 and 2'1. 1 Thus said bores 25 and 27 maybe made by drilling from the rear end of the base and then plugging the opening with said plug-28a. Another bore '29, extending fromone side of the tip or toe 19,

as at 30, communicates, as at 31, with the forward end of the bore 27. The front end of said bore 29 is closed by a. plug 32. It will be noted that the bore. 29 is substantially parallel to the bore 25 and communicates therewith through the bore 27.

Said base 11 is further provided with a bore or drilled opening 34 parallel to the bore 29 and likewise extendingto one side of the tip or toe 19 of the base. The front end of the bore 34 may be closed by a plug 35, and said bore terminates at the rear, short of the side wall 18 whereby the rear end of said bore is closed. A bore 37 disposed symmetrically to the bore 34, cuts across the forward ends of the bores 29 and 34 adjacent the plugs 81 and 35, the forward end of said bore 37 being closed by a plug 38. It will now be understood that steam entering through the opening 22 may passthrough the bore 23 to the bore 25 and then to the bore 27 and through the bore 29 to the bores 34 and 37. All of said bores or passages are parallel and spaced from the lower surface 15 of the base.

Small, parallel, spaced, vertical openings 34a and 37a connect thebores 34 and 37 with the undersurface of the base and serve to carry the steam to said undersurface. The steam passages 34a and 37a are thus located only in the forward half of the base, no steam passing to the rear half 'of the undersurface 15.

Disposed within each of the passages 23, 25, 27, 29, 34 and 37 is a corrugated or zig-zag shaped member 40 preferably made of an elongated thin strip of metal bent to the proper shape. The members 40 are inserted within their respective cylindrical passages or bores before the plugs are inserted to close the ends of said bores. The steam passing throughsaid bores or passages'is retarded by the corrugated metal strips 40 thus causing a thorough heating of the base and preventing condensation and excess pressure or lurching within the passages 34a and 37a.

For the purposehereinafter appearing, the base iris provided with a substantially centrally located recess 41 in the upper'surfacethereof and with a pair of vertical screw threaded openings 42 located on the longitudinalmid-section of said base and in the upper surface thereof and n on opposite sides of the recess 41.

The cover or casing 12 may be formed of a single casting and is provided with a rear surface 45 fiush with said rear surface 17 of the base and with upwardly and inwardly curved side surfaces 46. The bottom of the casing 12 is substantially of the same shape and overlies the upper surface ofzthe base 14. The underside of said casing 12 isrecessed to form an edge 47 around the entire perimeter thereof, contacting the upper. surface of the base, and flat walls'48 parallel and spaced from the upper surface 16'of said base- The recess in the underside of the casing further forms an 'elongated centrally'located chamber 50 and a chamber portion 51 at the rear of the casing communicating with said chamber 50. At the upper surface thereof, said casing 12 isfurther formed with a central fiat wall 53 and a pair of fiat wall portions54 located on opposite sides of said central. portion 53. For the purpose hereinafter described, the casing 12 is provided with an opening 56 adjacent the rear end thereof, communicating with chamber. 51, with a vertical opening '57 disposed at substantially the mid-portion of the surface 53 and with w a pair of parallel, vertical openings 58 extending to said surfaces 54 and aligned with openings42 inbase 11. W

- The handle 13 comprises a pair ofmetal members 66*and 61 having inwardly projecting feet 60a and 61a contacting said surfaces 54. Said members 60 and 61 further comprise upwardly base and avalve fitting or mem said arms 62 and 63 by means of bolts 66. The foot portions 60a and 61a are provided with openings aligned with the openings 58 and bolts 67- extend through the openings in said'feet and through the openings 58 and are screwed at the bottom ends thereof to the openings 42' inthe base, thus fixing the base 11, the casing 12 and the handle 13 together. Unscrewing of the bolt 67 will thus permit the handle 13, the case 12 and the base 11 to be separated.

The upwardly extending arm 62 of the member 60 is formed with an integral looped extension 68 disposed above the opening 56 in the casing 12 and the upwardly extending arm 63 of the member '61 is formed at the left edge thereof for the purpose hereinafter appearing, with a plurality of teeth 69 having fiat underedges.

Disposed between the base 11 and the casing 12 and lying between the surfaces 16 and 48 is an electric heating element 70 of any suitable usual construction provided with openings receiving the bolts 67 therethrough. The heating element 70 may be of usual construction and provided with a' controlling rod 73 extending upwardly therefrom through the opening 57 at the top of the casing. A handle 74 preferably made of insulating material may be suitably attached to the upper end of the rod 73 for rotating the latter to adjust the heating element 70. Said heating element 70 may be provided with a pair of terminals- 75 formed with a pair of parallel prongs 76 extending through the opening 56 and projecting into the looped extension 68. An extension socket may be attached to the prongs 76 in the usual manner, the looped extension 68 serving as a guard for the socket.

Means is provided for supplying steam to, the passages within the base. To this end, the easing'12 is provided with a vertical opening 78 coaxial with the screw threaded opening 22 in said r 79 is provided with a pipe portion 80 ext nding through said opening and screwed at the lower end thereof to said threaded opening 22. The member 80 is formed with a central passage 81' having a valve seat 82 at the upper end thereof. Extending from said portion 80 is an upwardly and outwardly inclined portion 83 formed with a threaded opening 84 and a e 85 communicating with a valve chamber or opening .86 formed above the valve seat 82. Said member 79 is further providedwith an upwardly extending externally screw threaded portion 88 having a central enlarged packing chamber 89. Slidably mounted within the valve opening 86, and

extending through chamber 89, is a needle valve stem member 93 having a conical end portion 94 adapted to be seated on the valve seat 82. Received within said chamber 89 is packing material 90 surrounding said valve stem. A gland 91 receiving said stem therethrough, extends into chamber 89 and projects above the upper end of said portion 88. A gland casing or housing member 92 may be screwed to the outer screw threads of the portion 88 for pressing the gland 91 against the packing material 90. ,Receiving said valve stem 93 therethrough, is a collar 97' fixed to said stem by a set screw 98, said collar ,being normally spaced from the gland casing arm 100 disposed about and clamped to said portion 88, a vertical portion 101 parallel to the valve stem 93 and a horizontal ring portion 102 having an internally screw threaded opening103 and normally spaced from and parallel to the collar 97. Screwed to the screw threaded opening 103 in said ring portion 102 is a member 105 provided with an internal socket 106 and having an end wall 107 formed with a central opening 108' slidably receiving the valve stem 93 therethrough. A coil compression spring 109 interposed between the collar 97 and the wall portion 107 of the member 105 serves to normally press the valve stem downwardly into contact with the seat 82 to prevent flow of steam to the passage 81. Steam may be supplied to the member 79 by means of a fitting 110 screwed to the opening 84 in the portion 83 of said member 79 and connected to a suitable steam boiler (not shown).

For unseating the valve stem 93, there is provided a member 112 having a ring portion 113 disposed between the gland casing 92 and the collar 97 and having an opening 113a loosely receiving said valve stem therethrough. Extending from said ring portion 113 is an elongated arm 114 projecting forwardly and disposed substantially parallel to the handle 13. The arm 114 is bent as at 115 around the member 61 to the opposite side of said member and terminates in a flat portion 116 having an edge 117 adapted to contact the under edges of the teeth 69. Attached to said portion 116 is a heat insulating thumb-piece 118 preferably having a concave upper surface 118a for receiving the thumb. Said surface 118, it will be noted, is located adjacent to and somewhat below the 'front end of the handle sleeve 65 and on the left side thereof, whereby a.- person operating the pressing iron 10 with the right hand, may readily place the thumb of said hand in said surface 118a for pressing the member 112 downwardly. Downward pressure on the thumb-piece 118 will cause the member 112 to pivot or rock about the forward edge of the member 92, thus lifting the collar and consequently the valve stem 93 for unseating the latter. The quantity of steam passing to the base may thus be regulated by suitably manipulating the member 112.

It will be noted that the member 112 is also pivoted about the axis of the valve stem. Thus for adjusting the member 112 from the position shown in Fig. 1, to the lower tooth, the thumb is first pressed against the member 118 slightly and the member 112 then pivoted sideways to the left to disengage the edge 117 from the tooth. Increased pressure of the thumb-piece 118 will cause the outer end of the arm 112 to move downwardly to permit the edge 117 to be engaged with the lower tooth.

It will be understood that the pressing implement may be made for a left handed personby placing the valve fitting 79 adjacent the left rear corner of the implement and positioning the thumb-piece .118 on the right side of the sleeve 65 sq that the thumb of the left hand will be suitably located for pressing the valve actuating member 112 without. removing the hand from the handle sleeve 65.

It will thus be seen that there is provided a device in which the several objects of this in vention are achieved, and which is well adapted to meet the conditions of practical use.

As various possible embodiments might be made of the above invention, and as various changes might be made in the embodiment set.

forth, it is to be understood that all matter herein-set forth or shown in the accompanying drawings, is to be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent:-

1. A pressing iron comprising a base,'a cover therefor, said base being provided with a narrow elongated passage of circular cross-section, means for feeding steam to said passage, and means within said passage for retarding the flow of steam therethrough said means comprising a strip of uniform width and of zig-zag shape and disposed along the length of said passage.-

2. A pressing iron provided with a passage,

means for feeding steam to said passage, and means within said passage for retarding the flow of steam therethrough, said means comprising a corrugated strip inserted within said passage.

ARTHUR SUSSMAN. 

